ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1922, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“HIAWATHA.” A CLEVER INTERPRETATION. It is a bold undertaking to select from a poem that largely depends for its cohesion upon its wealth of detail a scene or two which will compress within the limits of an evening’s entertainment the main features of the story the poet has to tell. But the appreciation shown by the large audience at the Empire Theatre last night should have convinced those responsible for the Hiawatha recital that they had succeeded fairly well. The staging was excellent, and .Mrs. Kircher, upon whom the main portion of the elocutionary work depended, is an artist of no mean talent. Her enunciation is exceptionally clear, and in the “famine” scene she showed herself well able to rise to a dramatic interpretation, whilst the pathos and dignity of Hiawatha’s farewell was most effectively portrayed.

In Misses Olive and Ivy Campbell, Ivy Johnston and Ina Cante]! she had assistants whose work revealed careful training and no little success in character portrayal. Miss Ivy Campbell’s song, “The Magic Month of May,” was charmingly rendered, and Miss Mamie Ellis’ “Beggar’s Dance” added greatly to the charm of the “wedding” scene. Songs by Mrs. F. Boyle and Mr. Fredric, and a flute solo by Mr. Bosworth, added to the success of the recital. East but not least, the Boys’ High School orchestra did excellently, both their selections being deservedly encored. “THE PRINCESS OF POPPYLAND.” EMPIRIE THEATRE TO-NIGHT. It is not often that theatre-goers here have the opportunity of seeing an entertainment of the nature of “The Princess of Poppyland,” and it is expec/ed that this operetta will prove very popular. The operetta is one that lends itself to bright stage effect and from beginning to end there is not a dull moment in the piece. The choruses are all bright, while some very pretty solos and duets are also included. A flower dance by several “Flower Girls” and a gipsy dance are executed very effectively by dancers in suitable costumes. An orchestra of ten instruments will accompany the chorus throughout.